5 SA    Pasadena Stakes

   $200.000    3yo      1m Turf       121lbs +penalties

Three year old turf specialists will be the name of the 2020 Pasadena Stakes, to be run at a mile on the SoCal grass on Saturday.  This is a wide open race with classy vets and some lightly raced up-and-comers.  I went to the outside post and took Declassified as my top pick.  I just love that closing kick he has and it may be the difference maker in this one.  If he can’t find a clear path late, I’d look at Lucky Storm as another with a big chance.  He was second on BC Day so you know he is as game as they make them.  Speaking of up-and-comer, I’ll take Alms Park in the third spot.  This is only his fourth time to the post but he makes the most of every opportunity and looked good winning at FG in his first race for the new barn.  There’s a few others that have big chances so it should be a great race.

Here’s The Field –

Had been on a roll then chucked a bad race in the TX Turf Mile and was sold after that race.  Not exactly the perfect way to kick off the sophomore campaign but he has shown some real talent and was only beaten two lengths in that last out debacle.  Can he rebound?

On a three race win streak after breaking maiden here in Oct.  Back to back wins in NoCal and now heads into the deep end of the pool.  He has natural speed and I look for him to use it here again today.

Kicked off 2020 with a win which matches his 2yo season.  That was a nice win on the down-hill course and he seems the type that once he gets the lead, he won’t give it back.  Can he hit the front end in this group?

Lightly raced, never off of the board and was third in a stakes at TAM to close out his ’19 season.  That was his only loss, breaking maiden at first asking and then scoring at FG for the new connections.  This is a step up for him but this horse looks the part.

Two wins but he has a few graded races that can make you like him a bunch.  Second in the BC Juv Turf (GI) and close well to be within three-quarters of a length of the winner.  His only off-the-board start was last out on an off track.  Look for him to bounce back.

Only the third start for this one but he sure did look good breaking maiden on the down-hill course here in his debut 2020 start.  Quick time and he was over-looked by the betters at nearly 27/ odds.  I don’t think you will get that here today.

Closed ’19 with a third vs. stakes company and repeated that on a soft HOU course to do the same in his ’20 debut.  Solid work getting ready for today and he looks the part.  Give him a big chance in this race.

Stakes racing has been a challenge for this one and it doesn’t get any easier today.  Still, he won over this track to get his ’20 season started in the right way, and he did it in quick fashion.  Maybe he’s figuring this race thing out.

Got the job done at 12/1 odds to start his ’20 season with a stakes win.  He had two wins as a 2yo and he certainly knows how to close a late gap.  The post does him no favors, but he may overcome that.

Categories: Ungraded